For many Ghanaians, the informal sector is where work begins. It is where carpenters, welders, electricians, tailors, caterers, hairdressers and mechanics earn a living, train apprentices and support their families. Yet despite employing most of the country’s workforce, the sector remains largely characterised by low productivity, limited access to finance and businesses that rarely grow beyond the owner.
The Design and Technology Institute (DTI) believes that picture can change.
In partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, the institute has graduated and certified 1,593 Master Craft Persons (MCPs) and Small and Medium-sized Enterprise (SME) owners under its Precision Quality (PQ) programme, which combines technical training with business development and formalisation.
The graduates comprise 1,307 women, representing 82 per cent of the cohort, 286 men and 68 Persons with Disabilities.
The Accra graduation is the first of three ceremonies planned this month. Another 528 participants will graduate in Ho on August 19, while 2,639 will graduate in Kumasi on August 26, bringing the total number of beneficiaries to 4,760 this year.
Helping Small Businesses Grow
Many artisans are highly skilled in their trade but struggle with the business side of running an enterprise.
Poor record keeping, weak financial management and the absence of proper business registration often make it difficult to secure loans, bid for contracts or expand operations.
The Precision Quality programme addresses those gaps. Alongside practical skills, participants received training in entrepreneurship, financial management, digital literacy, customer relations and workplace safety.
Graduates are also being supported to register their businesses, open bank accounts and connect with trade associations and financial institutions.
For many participants, these steps could be as valuable as the technical training itself.
Why This Matters
The impact of stronger informal businesses reaches far beyond the owners.
A welder who secures financing can buy modern equipment and employ more hands. A seamstress with proper business records can compete for contracts to supply schools or companies. A food processor that meets regulatory standards can move products from neighbourhood markets onto supermarket shelves.
As businesses expand, they create jobs, purchase more goods and services from other local businesses and generate higher incomes for households.
For an economy where small enterprises dominate employment, improving the way these businesses operate could have a significant effect on productivity.
Founder and President of DTI, Constance Elizabeth Swaniker, said formalisation gives businesses opportunities that are often out of reach for informal operators.
“Formalisation enables enterprises to access finance, compete for contracts, create jobs and contribute more significantly to national development,” she said.
Drawing on her own experience as a former carpentry apprentice, she said practical skills alone were not enough to build a successful business. Strong management systems and recognised standards were equally important.
Investing in Those Who Train Others
One of the programme’s strengths is its focus on Master Craft Persons.
Across Ghana, they are responsible for training thousands of apprentices every year in trades that keep the economy running.
Strengthening one workshop can therefore benefit many more young people over time.
To encourage business expansion, DTI awarded Business Scale-up and Apprenticeship Support Kits worth US$250 each to 241 outstanding participants.
Recipients were selected partly because they committed to taking on at least three apprentices after completing the programme.
If those commitments are fulfilled, hundreds of additional apprenticeship opportunities could be created across sectors including fashion, catering, welding, electrical installation, ICT, printing and food processing.
Women Lead the Way
Women accounted for more than four out of every five graduates.
That reflects the growing role women play in Ghana’s small business sector, particularly in food processing, fashion, beauty services and retail.
Supporting these businesses has implications beyond individual entrepreneurs. Many provide employment within their communities and serve as an important source of household income.
The programme also included 68 Persons with Disabilities, widening access to skills and enterprise development.
From Informal to Competitive
Graduates left with more than certificates.
Each participant received Precision Quality certification and support to register a business with the Office of the Registrar of Companies.
Partners including Fidelity Bank, MTN Mobile Money and the Food and Drugs Authority are also helping participants access banking services, digital payment platforms and product certification.
These connections could improve their chances of securing financing and accessing larger markets.
The programme also launched the PQ MCPs and SMEs Alumni Association to support networking, mentorship and continued business development after graduation.
A Small Programme With Bigger Ambitions
Training 4,760 artisans will not transform Ghana’s informal economy overnight.
But programmes like this address one of the country’s long-standing challenges: helping small businesses become productive enough to grow, employ more people and participate fully in the formal economy.
For Ghana, where the informal sector remains the backbone of employment, that may prove to be one of the most practical ways to expand opportunities for young people, strengthen local businesses and support long-term economic growth.
